Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Opportunity Almost Missed

Sometimes I miss opportunity when it knocks. This time it knocked twice and fortunately I took it on the second knock. I was with friends and we were walking through the market. I saw this little girl surrounded by these lush colors but studiously working in her book. I was in the middle of the group and I hesitated to stop and walked on by. Tom was a little behind me and he caught up with me and said, "Take a picture of this little girl." Boing! He was right. I took this one, another one and then she looked up.

Thanks Tom for giving me a second opportunity.

13 comments:

Islagringo said...

It wasn't a missed opportunity. Like most of us bloggers, I think you subconsciously chose to not take this picture because of the subject matter. Many of us pass up great pictures because taking pictures of people feels so intrusive to their lives. Glad you had second thoughts though!

Billie Mercer said...

Gringo, I do hesitate to intrude...I'm just not a street shooter. Most of the time I have made contact and asked permission.

Babs said...

Absolutely precious..........thanks for taking it! The juxtaposition of colors surrounding this darling little girl is delightful.

pitchertaker said...

Problem with stopping to ask, the moment you want to photograph is gone. I'm a shoot first, ask later, photographer. I think it becomes intrusive when people stand fiddling with their camera way too long before actually taking the pic. The eye contact of the second image is SOOOOOO much stronger. I love how she's holding the pencil, and the way she's turning her toes inward. At times like this, take the picture, then when she looks up, smile and say thank you. I find that 99% of the time I get a big smile in return.

P'taker

Steve Cotton said...

And yet some of the best photographs you and Wayne have shot -- as well as our other blog colleagues -- are impromptu people shots. I have to force myself to do it, but I am often pleased with the result -- with the exception of the French woman who hit me with her purse before I could shoot.

Deb Hall ~ Zocalo de Mexican Folk Art said...

I so love these. Beautiful photos, Billie! And though not a street shooter, you take wonderful and honest portraits. I put these two in that category.

Babs said...

I have to comment again! The first photo with here little fingers raised because she is in such concentration just grabbed my heart. I had to come back and look at it again! Wonderful.

Billie Mercer said...

Thanks to all of you. You encourage me to photograph more people.

GlorV1 said...

She's a busy little girl doing her own thing and when she looks up and sees you, it's as if she is saying, "may I help you." Very nice. Thank you.

Unknown said...

¡Preciosa!

Howard Grill said...

Beautiful shot. Like you, I am always hesitant to take pictures of people I don't know and am equally hesitant to ask. Shots like this just show me that I really need to figure out how to stop feeling that way. I give you credit for consciously breaking that inner hesitation, particularly with a child.

Kate said...

Mexican childen are among the most beautiful on earth, and I always take lots of photos of them. Parents are often pleased, and I always wish that I had both the language and capability to duplicate the photos for them.

Dee said...

Wow, she is just beautiful. What a moment you captured. The children here are so beautiful. Wonderful photo.